There's a short story in the new Lenox Avenue ezine called "Old Leatherwings". I'm not sure I really got it, so I'd be interested in hearing what some of the rest of you make of it.
Posted by thinkum at July 21, 2004 06:47 PMHmm. An interesting twist on the old Brothers Grimm story. It's truly amazing what people will do out of spite, and love twisted to hate. Thank you Thinky, for showing me that. It's the best short story I've read in weeks. Maybe even months.
Posted by: Noah at July 22, 2004 05:25 AMThe thing I was feeling iffy about was the lack of any sort of even-tiny-or-vague hint re: the ending. It sort of seemed to come out of nowhere...which may have been the author's intention, but I'm not sure it entirely worked, for me.
I'll reread it this weekend, when I can kick back and relax a bit; perhaps I just missed something. The writing itself was absolutely lovely. ;-)
Posted by: Thinky at July 23, 2004 08:00 PMThe story is a twist: sometimes curses are cast for a good reason, even if the original intent was evil.
There are plenty of indications:
"Once there was a cruel and beautiful maiden with eleven handsome brothers who had been transformed into ravens."
"Once there was a young tradesman who learned too late who it was that had truly loved him."
" Oui, for you did so discourage my love, my darling. All those promises and all those stolen kisses –
– only to spurn me in the end."
"The bird hopped onto the chair that the jacket was draped on and unleashed a spatter of white excrement, oblivious to the convulsive coughing of the old leatherman hunched on the floor. "I beg your pardon," the bird said, but did not seem concerned."
The signs were there, but couldn't be made plainer without ruining the story.
I agree, it's one of the better short stories that I've read in some time.
Posted by: PyeCat at August 12, 2004 06:07 AM